Object dispenser apparatus

ABSTRACT

An object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual products for use without users touching products to be used by others. The object dispenser apparatus includes a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing lids from the container; and an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the lids one-at-a-time from the container to the tray.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the U.S. non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 16/122,922 filed on Sep. 6, 2018, the disclosure ofwhich is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to product dispensers and moreparticularly pertains to a new object dispenser apparatus for dispensingindividual products for use without users touching products to be usedby others.

Description of the Prior Art

The use of product dispensers is known in the prior art. Morespecifically, product dispensers heretofore devised and utilized areknown to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structuralconfigurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by thecrowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment ofcountless objectives and requirements.

The prior art includes a dispensing apparatus including a load platformhaving a main floor on which to place a stack of lids and also having aparallelogram mechanism mounted to move in a linear direction forward toa dispense position and rearward to a home position. Another prior artincludes a dispensing device for beverage cup lid including anexternally threaded central rotary rod attached to a direct drivebidirectional electrical motor and suspended within a lid cabinet with astacked plurality of lids retained upon the rotary rod through a centralbore in each lid, the lids urged downward by a traveling press plate.Also, another prior art includes a mechanism for separating individual,tapered rimless container parts in timed sequence from a vertical stackof such parts and wherein separable support fingers underlie theperipheral edge of the lowermost part and a continuously revolvedactuator controls a spring-powered striker member which is periodicallyreleased to engage the fingers with sufficient momentum to spread themenough to let the lowermost part fall beyond the fingers which are thenimmediately returned to original position to underlie and receive thealso descending next lowermost part. Further, another prior art includesa housing, shaft assemblies and a lid dispensing mechanism. Each shaftassembly includes a shaft that extends from a base of the housing, a lidshelf that supports at least a bottom-most lid in the lid stack area anda drive gear about its shaft so that rotation of the drive gear causesrotation of the associated shaft and lid shelf. While these devicesfulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, theaforementioned patents do not disclose a new object dispenser apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new object dispenserapparatus which has many of the advantages of the product dispensersmentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new objectdispenser apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art product dispensers,either alone or in any combination thereof. The present inventionincludes a housing including an elongated container having an open topand adapted to store lids therein and also having a tray incommunication with the container for dispensing lids from the container;and an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the lidsone-at-a-time from the container to the tray. None of the prior artincludes the combination of the elements of the present invention.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the object dispenser apparatus in order that the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood, and in orderthat the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.There are additional features of the invention that will be describedhereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claimsappended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new objectdispenser apparatus which has many of the advantages of the productdispensers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in anew object dispenser apparatus which is not anticipated, renderedobvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art productdispensers, either alone or in any combination thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new objectdispenser apparatus for dispensing individual product for use withoutusers touching product to be used by others.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newobject dispenser apparatus that eliminates the transmission of germs toproducts used with foods and drinks.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newobject dispenser apparatus that prevents product waste and thus reducescost transferred to the users.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new object dispenser apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side edge elevation view of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the actuatorassembly present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the actuatorassembly of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the third embodiment of the actuatorassembly of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the fourth embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through9 thereof, a new object dispenser apparatus embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the object dispenser apparatus10 generally comprises a housing 11 having a top wall 12 including anelongated container 13 having an open top 14 and adapted to storeobjects 44 therein and also having a tray 15 in conventionalcommunication with the container 13 for dispensing the objects 44 fromthe container 13; and an actuator assembly 16 disposed in the housing 11for dispensing the objects 44 one-at-a-time from the container 13 to thetray 15. The tray 15 is conventionally attached to and extends outwardlyfrom the container 13 and is slanted downwardly from the open top 14 ofthe container 13 to facilitate sliding of the lids 44 for access by auser.

The actuator assembly 16 includes a biased element 17 disposed in thecontainer 13 for biasing the lids 44 to the open top 14 of the container13 and also includes an elongated object engagement member 18 adapted toengage and move the lids 44 to the tray 15. The actuator assembly 16further includes an actuator 19 conventionally disposed upon the housing11 for actuating the object engagement member 18. The actuator 19 is amotion sensor. The actuator assembly 16 also includes a controller 20such as a circuit board in conventional communication with the motionsensor 19 and a power source and with the object engagement member 18for controlling the object engagement member 18 into engagement with thelids 44.

The actuator assembly 16 further includes a track member 21conventionally conventionally attached to and depending from the topwall 12 in the housing 11 and disposed perpendicular to the container13, and also includes a object engagement motor 22 in conventionalcommunication with the controller 20 and conventionally connected to theobject engagement member 18 and having a rotatable shaft 23 with acogged wheel 24 conventionally mounted to the rotatable shaft 23 andmovable upon the track member 21 to linearly move the object engagementmember 18. Upon detection of motion by the motion sensor 19, a signalsuch as an electric signal or a wireless signal is sent to thecontroller 20 which actuates the object engagement motor 22 effectingengagement of the object engagement member 18 to the lid 44 at the opentop 14 of the container 13 and moving the lid 44 onto the tray 15. Thehousing 11 has a projecting member 25 conventionally depending from thetop wall 12 into the housing 11 adjacent to the container 13. Theelongated object engagement member 18 has an enlarged portion 26disposed thereabout and intermediate thereof and being in contactablerelationship with the projecting member 25 to move the object engagementmember 18 downwardly into engagement with the lid 44 at the open top 14of the container 13 and to lift the lid 44 out of the container 13.

The object engagement member 18 has a proximate end 27 which isrotatably and conventionally coupled to the object engagement motor 22and also has a distal end 28 having a prong 29 conventionally disposedperpendicular to the object engagement member 18 and adapted to extendinto the lid 44 at the open top 14 of the container 13 and rotate thelid 44.

As a second embodiment, the object engagement member 18 has a proximateend 27 conventionally connected to the object engagement motor 22 andhas a distal end 28 with a suction cup 30 conventionally attachedthereto. The actuator assembly 16 also includes an air pump 31 disposedin the housing 11 and being in conventional communication with thecontroller 20 and further includes an air conduit 32 conventionallyinterconnecting the air pump 31 to the suction cup 30 to pump air fromthe suction cup 30 so that the suction cup 30 engages the lid 44 at theopen top 14 of the container 13.

As a third embodiment, the object engagement member 18 has a proximateend 27 conventionally connected to the object engagement motor 22 andhas a distal end 28 with a threaded bit 33 rotatably disposed in andthrough the distal end 28 and adapted to engage with the lid 44 at theopen top 14 of the container 13. The actuator assembly 16 also includesa bit motor 34 disposed in the housing 11 and being in conventionalcommunication with the threaded bit 33 for the rotation thereof. The bitmotor 34 has a rotatable drive shaft 35 and is also in conventionalcommunication with the controller 20. The actuator assembly 16 furtherincludes a bit wheel 36 conventionally engaged about the threaded bit 33and also includes a drive wheel 37 conventionally disposed about thedrive shaft 35 for rotation therewith and further includes an endlessbelt 38 carried about the drive wheel 37 and the bit wheel 36.

As a fourth embodiment, the actuator assembly 16 includes an objectengagement shaft 39 pivotally disposed in the housing with the objectengagement member 18 conventionally mounted to the object engagementshaft 39. The object engagement member 18 has a proximate end 27conventionally mounted to the object engagement shaft 39 and has adistal end 28 engagable with an outer edge 45 of the lid 44 at the opentop 14 of the container 13 to flip the lid 44 onto the tray 15. Thedistal end 28 of the object engagement member 18 has an upturned lip 40to effectively engage the outer edge 45 of the lid 44 at the open top 14of the container 13. The actuator assembly 16 also includes a lever 43conventionally and rotatably mounted to the object engagement shaft 39and further includes a piston motor 41 disposed in the housing 11 andhaving a piston 42 movable relative to the piston motor 41 and engagablewith the lever 43 to rotate the lever 43 which pivots the objectengagement member 18 to flip the lid 44 at the open top 14 of thecontainer 13 onto the tray 15 upon detection of motion by the motionsensor 19.

In use, a user may wave one's hand in front of the actuator 19 whichsends a signal to the controller 20 which actuates the object engagementmember 18 into engagement with the lid 44 at the open top 14 of thecontainer 13 with the object engagement member 18 moving the lid 44 fromthe container 13 to the tray 15 and then retracting to its originalposition.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the object dispenser apparatus. Further, since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionand operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. An object dispenser apparatus comprising: a housing has atop wall and including an elongated container having an open top andadapted to store objects such as lids therein and also having a tray incommunication with the container for dispensing the objects from thecontainer; and an actuator assembly disposed in the housing fordispensing the objects one-at-a-time from the container to the tray. 2.The object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the trayis attached to and extends outwardly from the container and is slanteddownwardly from the open top of the container to facilitate sliding ofthe kids for access by a user.
 3. The object dispenser apparatus asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly includes a biasedelement disposed in the container for biasing the lids to the open topof the container and also includes an elongated object engagement memberadapted to engage and move the lids to the tray.
 4. The object dispenserapparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the actuator assembly furtherincludes an actuator disposed upon the housing for actuating the objectengagement member to engage and move the lids to the tray.
 5. The objectdispenser apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the actuator is amotion sensor, wherein the actuator assembly also includes a controllerin communication with the motion sensor and with the object engagementmember for controlling the object engagement member.
 6. The objectdispenser apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the actuatorassembly further includes a track member attached to and depending fromthe top wall in the housing and disposed perpendicular to the container,and also includes an object engagement motor in communication with thecontroller and connected to the object engagement member and having arotatable shaft with a cogged wheel mounted to the rotatable shaft andmovable upon the track member to linearly move the object engagementmember, whereupon detection of motion by the motion sensor, a signal issent to the controller which actuates the object engagement motoreffecting engagement of the object engagement member with the lid at theopen top of the container and moving the lid onto the tray.
 7. Theobject dispenser apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the housinghas a projecting member depending from the top wall inside the housing.8. The object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein theelongated object engagement member has an enlarged portion disposedthereabout and intermediate thereof and being in contactablerelationship with the projecting member to move the object engagementmember downwardly into engagement with the lid at the open top of thecontainer and to lift the lid out of the container.
 9. The objectdispenser apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the objectengagement member has a proximate end which is rotatably connected tothe object engagement motor and also has a distal end having a prongdisposed perpendicular to the object engagement member and adapted toextend into the lid at the open top of the container and rotate the lid.